The story of the Moldovan state begins with the splitting of the Moldavian Principality in 1812, following the Russian-Turkish war. The Principality would then for the first time be torn apart between russian and turkish influence. After the end of the first world war the territory would become an integral part of Romania, only to be divided again by the signing of the Molotov -Ribbentrop Pact in1939. Following the end of the second World War, Moldova would undergo a second wave of russian and cultural colonization.

The USSR was at that time trying to homogenize its newly acquired territories and disarm any potential local resistance. In the newly created Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic russian colonization was taking an previously unseen route: creating a distinct “moldovan” identity, as opposite to the “romanian” one, as recognized by the native population. This new identity would imply the creation of a separate history, that emphasized Moldova’s distinct identity, and the creation of a new “moldovan” language, which even though was nothing more than a light dialect of romanian, was now being written in its own cyrillic alphabet.

While social pressures managed to force change in Eastern/Western Germany, the wall dividing Moldova and Romania is still very much in place. In higher education the focus is still on courses taught in russian language, even though romanian is the native language of over 80% of its population. There have been reports even as late as 2009 of children not having access to education in their native romanian language. As it appears, the russians have managed to slowly build a separate national identity for the new Moldovan state, and even the younger generations now see themselves as being “moldovans”, not romanians. Worth mentioning is the fact that the moldovan intelectual elites are educated either in Romania or in Western Europe, as opposed to the traditional political elites, which are invariably russian-educated. How this bears on the future leadership of the country remains to be seen.

This brings to the forefront the question of if and how would Moldova integrate itself into the European Union. While the country now has a romanian-orientated government, the cultural and economic gap dividing the two countries is still wide enough to prevent their unification in the near future. The European Union though is quietly pushing for the integration of Moldova into its ranks, and this can be seen as the closest thing to the disappearance of the wall dividing the two countries. While the border will still exist, it will no longer be the wall that it used to be. This solution could prove to be satisfying for both sides, as it maintains the sense of a moldovan national identity without the artificial division of the two countries.

Radu Matei

Feltri e Berlusconi

Recently the public opinion of our sunny land has been busy talking about the spicy sexual life of Dino Boffo, also known as the ex editor of the slightly conservative newspaper Avvenire (owned by CEI, the council of bishops located in Vatican City). There has been rumors about his homosexuality since years: as much as we know (and Boffo didn’t deny anything), he had to pay 516 euros in 2004 after he molested a girl via telephone. Reportingly, Boffo had sex with the girl’s boyfriend.

Nothing bad with it, of course; but, unfortunately, if you are one of the most important and influent spokeperson of a 2000 years old company that consider homosexuality as an unforgivable sin, you are supposed to be honest and blameless. Certainly not a queer.

Well, this story came out after Avvenire started to warmly criticise our prime minister Berlusconi’s behaviour. Not a coincidence, if we consider that il Giornale (the newspaper that kicked off the scandal) is legally owned by Berlusconi’s brother and practically controlled by Berlusconi himself.

We all know why Berlusconi began to be criticized by a relevant part of catholic public opinion: sex addiction, unclear relationships with underage girls, disrespect for his wife and immoral attitude towards women. It seems he doesn’t care about that, despite the dozens of newspapers waiting for explanations. We may say “nothing relevant”: in Italy owning a football team and a bunch of televisions is enough to be considered just “a funny guy who loves women, what’s wrong with that?”. But this is not the point.

I want to focus on one particular thing nobody seems to care about. Let’s underline what Vittorio Feltri, editor of Il Giornale, said about the whole thing. He stated: “I decided to publish that article just to increase newspapers sales”. He clearly admitted that Italian people are just a gossip-addicted herd. He shamelessly said that he uses that hot piece of news in order to make some money off italians stupidity. We have to remember that a few weeks ago we could read that Il Giornale’s journalists were proud to work for gossip-free newspaper, not interested in private or sexual life, compared to other papers such as Repubblica (that is somehow leading the worldwide campaign against Berlusconi’s sleazy sexual behavior).

What makes me quite sad is that Feltri is totally right. Italian people are predictable and controllable by mass medias owners. We are not able to understand that what we read in mainstream newspapers and what we see on TV is fake, controlled, politically influenced.  Sometimes lies, sometimes distorted reality, sometimes real facts just reported in the wrong way. There’s always a reason behind editorial choices.

A couple of months ago the editor of TG1, the main news program in public television, appeared on TV to say that he didn’t want TG1 to talk about prime minister’s private life, stating that it was not relevant and not interesting at all. He forgot to mention that hundreds of newspapers all over the world are actually quite interested in it. Is it acceptable?

No doubt the answer is “not”. But what can we do? Do we have to continue to complain pointlessly? Maybe the answer is “not” again. I think there’s a way to be free: if we just push the red botton located on our remote control. And never switch it on again. Never care about what happen on TV. Never care about reality shows. Never buy any newspaper. Never buy anything owned by Berlusconi. Never care about football, since it’s just a money making machine exploiting our primitive instinct. As well as naked girls on TV.

Since we have internet, a free and world-connected source of information, we don’t need politically controlled national media. We just need pristine toilet paper, not the one with writings on it (i mean stuff like Il Giornale).

European governments plunder the public purse to rescue the bankers and to help large enterprises, while unemployment is growing steadily. It is the Europe of the privatization of higher education (through plan Bologna) and public services (trough Bolkestein Directive) or Directive of Return against immigrant workers, encouraging xenophobia and racism.

The current crisis in addition to their economic and social consequences, is leading to significant political changes, which will be intensified in the near future.

In the case of the Spanish State, the crisis itself and the global, are helping to stop definitively exposed the shortcomings of the government of Rodriguez Zapatero and the Bourbon regime emerged from the process called “transition”: widespread corruption, the use of repression legal or illegal as a way of addressing the recurrent social and political conflict with the public, lack of social services, the collapse of education systems …

Most notably, the very serious shortcomings emerge from a democratic regime whose head of state, Juan Carlos I, was imposed by Franco regime, consistent with this absurd situation, is unable to develop a law of Historical Memory that recognizes the reality of anti-fascist resistance of our people.

There is a current involution neo-fascist, driven by powerful sectors of Spanish capitalism and its institutional and media, which has two faces: the “modern”, which is the most significant UpyD and ”traditional”, whose peak lance is the Spanish Episcopal Conference. This reactionary movement, with its various expressions, is what is currently directing the fund’s strategy of Spanish dominant bloc, including the State Government. A strategy, which comprises, among other things, the alliance for PP-PSOE Basque-Country government with a clear objective: make the most influence possible in that territory.

On the other side, we can see the forces of sovereignty and independence of the left, political forces of the left state who respect the national rights of the various peoples oppressed by the Spanish State, as well as important social movements and trade unions, particularly the anti-fascist movement; the movement against the privatization of health, education and public services, workers’ struggles against the EREs and layoffs, the struggle of students against Bologna Plan, the women’s movement … In turn, some of these social movements have an important national-popular articulation, especially in villages where the sovereignty political process is more advanced.

We believe that there is sufficient capacity to orient in a way that anti-capitalist and democratic this increasingly widespread desire for radical change, but this ability now has an uneven development in our respective nations.

Based on this assessment, I promoted this manifesto, the core areas are:

* Social justice. The crisis must be paid those who have caused it: the capitalists. Capitalism has particularly aggressive traits, such as the tremendous job insecurity, because of higher unemployment and temporary employment in the EU. And now the claim of the system is given a further twist on exploitation and social cuts. The people that support this manifesto pledge to foster the mobilization to curb such purposes, requiring a rescue plan for workers, not afraid to propose anti-capitalist measures for this.

* Full democratic freedoms. We are checking how, step by step, are being cut the already limited civil rights, such as the right to freedom from discrimination on ideological grounds, language and culture, age or gender. The right to free expression, the right of not be retaliation, tortured or prosecuted for their own ideas. The right to vote and be voted. The Spanish state does not respect the sovereignty of nations under its jurisdiction or of all people. There is a legal-political framework established in the transition that has turned the state into a prison of peoples and nations, as well as in a pit of corruption.

* No gender discrimination. But not as a mere formal statement and vacuous, but as a regulatory, legal and practical enabling truly an end to discrimination. This includes, inter alias, the right and possibility of control by women over their bodies, their sexuality and reproductive capacity.

* Political rights. Rights denied by the current regime should be recognized, among which we must emphasize the right of all peoples to decide their future sovereign, and not as an isolated event but as a permanent right; it is the right of self-determination. The right of every person is to decide their form of government and the standardization of their language and culture.

* Against the Europe of capital. Against the Europe of capital and for the people of Europe. Against NATO’s military as an expression of imperialism and, therefore, demand the withdrawal of the state of the Spanish military alliance. Against speculation and environmental degradation, defending food sovereignty and the collective versus the private.

It is also important the support of sovereignty processes that occur at the European level, and also express our solidarity with the processes of articulation patriotic, anti-imperialist and social justice taking place in Latin America, as well as with the fronts of resistance in the Middle East, and particularly the heroic struggle of the Palestinian people. From an ardent internationalist vocation, supporting the struggles of all peoples of the world for their freedom and dignity.

Recently, I attended a conference at the Peace Palace here in the Hague, organized by the Commission on legal empowerment of the poor, where a book called “making the law work for everyone” was launched The commission is co-chaired by Madeleine K. Albright, former United States Secretary of State. It has Gordon Brown, British PM, as a former member as well as several dignitaries. The Commission aims to create legal protection and economic opportunities, especially for the poor.

During the conference, the Mayor of The Hague was quoted saying: “it is in The Hague that it happens, the world’s legal capital”. (Conference, 2009) So, why link the conference with the introduction?

First of all, I really appreciate the initiative of the Commission, and do not intend in any way to critique or undermine its efforts, but as honest as its mission could be, when viewed in the light of recent action by the International Criminal Court (ICC), which is also an international organization sitting in the Hague, one doubts the credibility of the court and wonders if the international community has sacred cows.

From an observer stand point, recently the ICC summoned an arrest warrant to the Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir for an allege crime against humanity in Dafur. The question is why Al-Bashir, why Charles Taylor, why Rwanda, why Africa? The answer is Africans need legal empowerment and protection, if the law should be made to work for everyone.

Meanwhile, this is not an approval of the atrocities committed in Africa, the tackles of international atrocities committed by former US president George W. Bush. The war against Iraq could not be justified despite UN’s resolution not to go to that war – nuclear weapons not found. Thousands of widows today in Iraq cannot understand why the whole world has turned against them. Who is to blame?

Similarly, the closure of the prison in Guantanamo Bay by president Barrack Obama is a clear indictment of his predecessor. If Obama has truly found fault and knows who the perpetrator is, then the law should not be selective, he should summon the culprit face the music. Several innocent people were incarcerated without cause, and have no access to justice. Again, this is not an approval of any terrorism that was thoroughly investigated and tracked.

Finally, this is a call for equity to everyone in upholding the rule of law. Everyone should be equal before the law. Therefore, the ICC should issue an arrest warrant to George W. Bush to bring to light the crime he committed against humanity. With this, the ICC will not only be fair, but will also be seen to be fair, culminating to world leaders’ consciousness of accountability, then the Hague will remain the world’s legal capital.

Philip Jehu
+31643973126
The Hague University.

The European elections move closer and the European Union is once again of universal concern. All Europeans have to vote and for the first or second time also the new member-states that joined 2004 and 2007. Amongst other they vote for a widening or deepening, for a common identity or a stronger nation state, for a further enlargement or a status quo. Whatever it is, the most important thing is that you realise that you are the one who decides where we go. You point the way. You create the New Europe*.

Unfortunately, a lot of people do not realise the importance of the European Union and only see the negative sides. These people forget that European integration more than a simple process. They forget that the European Union has become an important part

of our everyday life, even if we might not realise that in every situation. They forget that this multinational institution strengthens each member country because it is bound to other member countries and is therefore stronger against other big economies.
Nevertheless, there are still borders existing in the people’s mind. Many people do not see Europe as one common unit. Either influenced by the media or through a well-directed misinformation, they still have a barrier in their heads. It is time to change that. For us, it is time to create a New Europe* and to raise awareness with regards to the European Union. Therefore, it is most important to start with the youth. Young Europeans are the ones who set goals, who develop opportunities and who create the future.

In this regard, it is important to raise awareness of this important topic over and over again. It is important to make clear that the European Union is more than a simple federation. It is important to create a New Europe*, a Europe for everyone.
To encourage that, we created something new and started with a video, which reflect the voices of students from all over Eastern Europe. It reflects their opinions and shows why Europe is important to them in a different way. It reflects why it is time to develop a New Europe*. Think about it!

Morten Schmelzer
New Europe* (A project of The Hague University)

You like the video? You like the idea? You like the European Union and the meaning behind it? Then don’t hesitate. Every opinion counts!
Just publish a video answer on YouTube and tell us what you like about the New Europe*, why you support Europe or what your ideas are for the future!
We look forward to hearing from you!

Forgotten Conflicts

Lilia Ana Ramos Martín

Sudan, Haiti, Tibet, Congo, Western Sahara, Somalia, Sri Lanka… These are just some of the countries where, currently, conflicts are being ignored or forgotten. Their names sound distant, probably as far as they are geographically. However, we know that for globalisation there is no geography and these, as other events, could be within reach of our “remote control” at any time of the day.

Now, why is this happening?

To begin with, most of the countries we have just mentioned were colonies of developed countries when the Second World War finished and most of them are what we call “Failed States”. They are characterised by: lack of institutions (or really weak institutions), authorities that do not provide security are not competent, absence of judicial system, substitution of law by violence, rise of an illegal economy that displaces the legal, poor education and health systems, etc.

What are the reasons that lead to this situation?

The common causes derive from the pre-colonial and colonial structures; the ethnic, religious or tribal diversity with dependent economies on the old metropolis; the policies of the IMF and the World Bank, which decreased the role of the State so as to implement the liberal economic system… But we should not forget that, on the other hand we have internal reasons such as militarization, corruption, low income or inequality when it comes to political power access or education.

This said, let us be honest, although what we have explained above constitutes the base of the issue, the key factor lays on the media. Media has an undeniable influence on society; people rely and trust the information they are provided with, although the news is usually distorted or selected in the base of certain political group’s interests. With this behaviour they ignore the conflicts and consequently prevent citizens from their acknowledgement. It is their task to commit themselves to give objective information, this being one of the most necessary solutions.

In this context many NGOs struggle to make a wake-up-call, but find many handicaps in their way such as violence, corruption and the lack of interest by the media we have already portrayed, which lately is more interested in Iraq, Afghanistan or Pakistan… That is why most of these organisations claim that a multilateral view is needed, a close coordination with powerful institutions as the UN or the European Union: a compromise to work towards the establishment of solid states: democratic, stable and secure, not that much in the north systems’ image and likeness, but in their own way.

Despite the hard times we are living in, a problem like this one cannot and should not be put off; we shall not repeat the “lost decades” (80s and 90s). To achieve so, the first thing is to create awareness of when and where these conflicts are taking place (Media); to prevent the continuity of the failed States (multilateral commitment) by means of integrated policies and meanwhile, to provide sanitary and alimentary help locally, especially to refugees (NGOs).

the author: Lilia Ana Ramos Martín is an exchange student of the European Studies stream.

photography: Niko Papageorgiou is European Studies student and initiator of the IDEAS magazine.